Five things to watch at the Olympics on Friday

By the CNN Wire Staff

Updated 2:07 AM ET, Fri August 10, 2012

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Germany's right blocker Jonas Reckermann, right, jumps in front of Brazil's left blocker Alison Cerutti, left, during the men's beach volleyball final match on Thursday, August 9, in London. Check out Day 12 of competition from Wednesday, August 8. The Games ran through Sunday.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Montenegro's right wing Jovanka Radicevic reacts during the women's semifinal handball match between Spain and Montenegro.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – French guard Celine Dumerc celebrates after winning 81-64 against Russia during the women's semifinal basketball game between Russia and France.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Gemma Beadsworth, No. 2 of Australia, scores the first goal in extra time during the women's water polo bronze medal match between Australia and Hungary.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Li-Cheng Tseng of Chinese Taipei celebrates defeating Suvi Mikkonen of Finland during the women's 57 kilogram tae kwon do bronze medal finals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Natalia Vieru, No.11 of Russia, puts up a shot over Jennifer Digbeu, No.15 of France, during the women's basketball semifinal.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Brazil's right defender Emanuel Rego jumps to return the ball during the men's beach volleyball final match against Germany.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Marcel Balkestein, Robert van der Horst and goalkeeper Jaap Stockman of the Netherlands celebrate victory after the men's hockey semifinal match between Great Britain and the Netherlands.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – French guard Emilie Gomis, left, is seen in action during the London 2012 Olympic Games women's semifinal basketball game between Russia and France.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Artists perform on Thursday.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Usain Bolt of Jamaica leads Yohan Blake of Jamaica during the men's 200-meter final.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Wallace Spearmon of the United States, Churandy Martina of Netherlands, Yohan Blake of Jamaica and Alex Quinonez of Ecuador to win gold in the men's 200-meter final.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after winning gold in the men's 200-meter final.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Spain's leftback Nely Alberto Francisca vies with a competitor during the women's semifinal handball match between Spain and Montenegro.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Malaysia's Pandelela Rinong Pamg competes in the final of the women's 10-meter platform during the diving event.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – No. 16 Fernanda Rodrigues and No. 6 Thaisa Menezes of Brazil defend the ball from No. 18 Saori Kimura of Japan during the women's volleyball semifinal match.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Valentin Verga of the Netherlands competes during the men's field hockey semifinal match with Great Britain.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Keisuke Ushiro of Japan competes during the javelin throw in the men's decathlon.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – No. 5 Jane Moran of Australia celebrates winning the women's water polo bronze medal match with Hungary.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Marta Mangue Gonzalez of Spain scores a goal during the women's handball semifinal with Montenegro.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – No. 1 Hope Solo, No. 7 Shannon Boxx, No. 3 Christie Rampone, No. 6 Amy LePeilbet and No. 5 Kelley O'Hara of the United States celebrate after defeating Japan by a score of 2-1 to win the women's football gold medal.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – No. 14 Abby Wambach of United States reacts after a goal by No. 10 Carli Lloyd in the second half against Japan during the women's soccer gold medal match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – No. 8 Aya Miyama of Japan reacts after hitting the cross bar on a shot in the first half against the United States during the women's football gold medal match.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. defender Amy LePeilbet, left, fights for the ball with Japanese midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi during the final of the women's football competition.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Goalkeeper Hope Solo of the United States reacts after Carli Lloyd scored a goal in the first half.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Carli Lloyd heads in a goal in the first half to put the United States up 1-0 against Japan.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Carli Lloyd heads in a goal.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Yuki Ogimi of Japan moves the ball against Rachel Buehler of the United States.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Malaysia's Pamg Pandelela Rinong competes in the women's 10-meter platform diving final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Jiao Wang of China, in blue, and Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan compete in the women's freestyle 72-kilogram wrestling.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – David Lekuta Rudisha of Kenya approaches the finish line ahead of Nijel Amos of Botswana to win gold and set a world record in the men's 800-meter final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Lyukman Adams of Russia competes during the men's triple jump final.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Saori Yoshida of Japan celebrates winning the gold medal over Tonya Lynn Verbeek of Canada in the women's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Caster Semenya of South Africa competes in the women's 800-meter semifinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Martins Plavins of Latvia, right, hits a return against Rich Schuil of Netherlands during the men's beach volleyball bronze medal match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Will Claye of the United States competes during the men's triple jump final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Australia's Liz Cambage, center, shoots over Maya Moore, right, and Tina Charles of the USA.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Flora Bolonyai of Hungary attempts to make a save during the women's water polo bronze medal match against Australia.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Alysia Johnson Montano of the United States lies on the ground next to Elena Mirela Lavric of Romania after the women's 800-meter semifinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Nicholas Long of the United States, right, leads the field during the men's BMX cycling quarterfinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Claressa Shields of the United States, right, exchanges punches with Nadezda Torlopova of Russia during the women's middleweight boxing final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Liz Cambage of Australia attempts to control the opening tipoff against Tina Charles of the United States during the women's basketball semifinal.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Norway left back Ida Alstad, center, vies with South Korea right back Choi Im-Jeong, left, during the women's semifinal handball match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Katie Taylor of Ireland celebrates her defeat of Sofya Ochigava of Russia to win gold during the women's boxing lightweight final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Russia performs a women's teams synchronized swimming technical routine.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ashton Eaton of the United States takes part in the men's decathlon pole vault.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – A Norway supporter cheers during the women's semifinal handball match against South Korea.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Martin Stamper of Great Britain competes against Servet Tazegul of Turkey during the men's 68-kilogram taekwondo semifinal match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Keisuke Ushiro of Japan reacts after his decathlon pole vault.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – The German team runs toward goalkeeper Max Weinhold after winning the men's field hockey first semifinal against Australia.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Brian Kirkham of Australia leads the field during the men's BMX cycling quarterfinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Bikers leap through the course in the men's BMX cycling quarterfinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Germany's Christopher Zeller, center, competes with Australia's Matthew Swann, left, and Kieran Govers during the men's field hockey semifinal match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Portugal's Goncalo Carvalho rides Rubi in the individual dressage event.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Australian swimmers perform in the team technical routine during the synchronized swimming competition.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Great Britain's Martin Stamper, right, spars with Serbia's Damir Fejzic in the men's under-68-kilogram taekwondo quarterfinal match.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Australian rider Khalen Young lies on the ground after crashing during the men's BMX cycling quarterfinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Hungarian swimmer Eva Risztov races in the women's marathon 10-kilometer swimming event.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Japan's Saori Yoshida, right, and Azerbaijan's Yuliya Ratkevich compete in the women's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Chinese swimmers compete in the team technical routine during the synchronized swimming competition.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Dutch rider Jelle Van Gorkom, from left, German Maik Baier and Canadian Tory Nyhaug crash during the men's BMX cycling quarterfinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Canada's Melissa Tancredi, right, handles the ball against France's Laura Georges during the women's football bronze medal match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Finland's Suvi Mikkonen, left, spars with Senegal's Bineta Diedhiou during the preliminary round women's under 57-kilogram taekwondo match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Estonia's Anna Iljustsenko competes in the women's high jump qualification.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Italy's Noemi Batki competes in the women's 10-meter platform diving semifinal.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Germany's Angela Maurer, left, and and Spain's Erika Villaecija Garcia dive in to start the women's marathon 10-kilometer swimming.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – France's Delphine Ledoux competes in the individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – A fan of the French football team snaps some action during the women's football match for bronze between France and Canada.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. runner Joshua Mance passes the baton to teammate Tony McQuay during the men's 4 by 400-meter relay round 1 heats.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Lithuania's Darius Draudvila competes in the men's decathlon discus throw.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Spain's Carolina Rodriguez performs her hoop routine during the individual all-around qualifications of the rhythmic gymnastics.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Great Britain's Olga Butkevych, right, and Ecuador's Lissette Alexandra Antes Castillo compete in the women's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, center, waits for the baton during the men's 4 x 400-meter relay round 1 heats. Pistorius made history when he became the first double amputee athlete to compete in the Olympics.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Oscar Pistorius reacts after his South African team failed to finish the relay when a teammate crashed into another runner. After an appeal, the South African team will be allowed to race in the final.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ofentse Mogawane of South Africa receives assitance after colliding with a Kenyan runner during the men's 4 x 400-meter relay round 1 heats.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Brittany Viola of the United States performs a dive during the women's 10-meter platform semifinals diving event.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ariane Friedrich of Germany attempts a jump during the women's high jump qualification at Olympic Stadium.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – From left, Adonia Steryiou of Greece, Brigetta Barrett of the United States and Ariane Friedrich of Germany converse during the women's high jump qualification.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – China's Hu Yadan competes in the women's 10-meter platform semifinals.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Nigel Levine of Great Britain prepares for the start of the men's 4 x 400-meter relay round 1 heat.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Egypt's Hedaya Wahba, left, evades a kick from Robin Cheong of New Zealand during the preliminary round women's under 57-kilogram taekwondo match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – China's Chen Ruolin competes in the women's 10-meter platform semifinals diving event.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Canada's Meaghan Benfeito competes in the women's 10-meter platform semifinals.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Peru's Peter Lopez Santos, left, faces off against Damir Fejzic of Serbia in the preliminary round men's under 68-kilogram taekwondo match.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – From left, Pascal Behrenbruch of Germany, Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan and Oleksiy Kasyanov of Ukraine race during the men's decathlon 110-meter hurdles heats.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – China's Chen Ruolin competes in the women's 10-meter platform semifinals during the diving event.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Brigetta Barrett of the United States competes during the women's high jump qualification at Olympic Stadium.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ilya Shkurenev of Russia makes a throw during the men's decathlon discus throw.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Argentina players walk off the field after losing the men's field hockey match to New Zealand 3-1.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ebba Jungmark of Sweden reacts during the women's high jump qualification.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Kevin Mayer of France sits on the track after finishing last in heat 3 of the men's decathlon 110-meter hurdles.

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Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ilya Shkurenev of Russia prepares to throw in the men's decathlon discus throw.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Hungary's Zoltan Kammerer, Tamas Kulifai, David Toth and Daniel Pauman compete during the men's kayak four 1,000-meter canoe sprint at Eton Dorney in Windsor, England. The Hungarian crew went on to win the silver.

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Photos:Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics

Day 13: The best photos of the Olympics – Ariane Friedrich of Germany competes during the women's high jump qualification. Check out Day 14 of the competition from Friday, August 10.

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Story highlights

The U.S. relay team has three injured runners

American men's basketball team faces an Argentine team packed with veterans

BMX racing has been crash-filled at London

U.S. women's sprint relay teams are looking to make up for bad races in 2008

The United States has injury worries on the track while the basketball team worries about a familiar foe.

Here are five things to watch at the Olympics on Friday:

1) Men's 4x400 relay: U.S. hopes to continue streak

The United States is lucky to be in the final, lucky, that is, that Manteo Mitchell found a way to finish his opening leg despite a broken fibula. The United States will have to find a replacement for him as they challenge the Bahamas for the gold. Also keep an eye on Great Britain, which will have most of the 80,000 fans at Olympic Stadium cheering for them.

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2) Basketball: U.S. dreaming of another final

Team USA faces veteran Argentina in what could be a tough semifinal matchup for the dominant Americans. Sure the United States beat them 126-97 in the preliminary round, but it was a one-point game at half and surely the Americans won't score 42 points in the third quarter again. Argentina figures to slow the game down a little and they are expected to have point guard Pablo Prigioni back.

Eight riders, lots of jumps and bumps, some sharp turns, lots of crashes. As the New York Times said: "Given the carnage on display Thursday, it is safe to assume that whoever designed the BMX racetrack really dislikes BMX racers." Both men and women compete in the event with semifinals and final on Friday.

Defending superheavyweight champ Roberto Cammarelle takes on world No. 1 Magomedrasul Medzhidov. Cammarelle, from Italy, is one of only eight boxers to win three medals (he is already guaranteed at least a bronze.) Like his opponent, Medzhidov is on the shorter side for the weight class, but he makes up for a usual reach disadvantage with a powerful punch.

Boxing begins at 1:30 London time (8:30 a.m. ET). Superheavyweight matches begin at 10:30 p.m. London time (5:30 p.m. ET)

5) Women's 4x100 meter relay: Chance at redemption

Running with two backups, the United States came within a hair of breaking the Olympic record. On Friday, Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix will be back in the lineup for the Americans in their matchup against Jamaica. It is unclear if Jeneba Tarmoh, Tianna Madison or Bianca Knight will run again. Each team is looking for redemption as both teams botched handoffs at Beijing.